A New Chapter for Kendall Grove

After 15 years as a professional mixed martial artist, Kendall
Grove has decided to try his hand at a new discipline:
bareknuckle boxing. However, the transition does not mean his MMA
days are over. Grove just wants a change of pace.

“I’m not done with MMA,” he told Sherdog.com. “It’s just a
different avenue [to compete] and try something new.”

Grove will test his limuts under the Bare Knuckle Fighting
Championship banner on Saturday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum
in Biloxi, Mississippi, alongside other MMA notables, including
Chris
Lytle and Charles
Bennett. The 35-year-old Hawaiian last fought at Bellator 193
in January and owns a 23-18 record as a mixed martial artist.

“I’ve always liked to swing hands, [and] it always interested me,”
Grove said. “For the last seven years, I’ve been really into boxing
-- watching it, watching old fights and just trying to get better
at it.”

The opportunity with BKFC materialized when Grove became a free
agent. After a nine-fight run in Bellator
MMA, he was released after suffering three straight defeats.
Grove understands the promotion’s decision was based on business,
but it surprised him nonetheless.

“It confused me, but it is what it is,” he said. “No use crying
over spilled milk. Just pour another glass.”

Grove received offers from several smaller promotions in Canada and
the
Legacy Fighting Alliance. However, he wanted to get away from
the physical, emotional and spiritual grind of MMA and spend more
time with his family. Staying home and laying tile on a full-time
basis left the 42-fight veteran restless.

“I kind of got bored, planets aligned and this opportunity popped
up, and I took it,” Grove said, the lure of uncharted territory
proving too much to overcome. “I have never done this before
besides in high school [and] in the streets.”

When asked if he believed his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
debut would showcase his abilities as a boxer, Grove was quick on
the draw: “It’s going to have to. It’s all I can do. If I get hit
hard and I shoot a takedown, then you know he hit me really good.”
Humor aside, he feels he brings legitimate boxing skills to the
table. “I felt I always wasn’t just a grappler,” Grove said. “I
have a long reach, I have a decent jab [and I have] a scrappy
attitude when it comes to fighting.”

The idea to pursue a spot in BKFC came from the suggestions of
several followers on Grove’s social media accounts. While their
support helped him turn in another direction, some of his family
members were not as enthusiastic about his latest endeavor.

For a fighter who has lost by knockout or technical knockout eight
times and participated in bouts that went the distance on 12 other
occasions, the question of whether or not he risks further trauma
to his brain must be broached. However, Groves believes bareknuckle
fighting to be less damaging than MMA. Why? “The Ultimate Fighter
3” winner thinks bareknuckle competitors have to be much more
selective with their strikes since they do not have the protection
of gloves.

“You don’t want to hurt your hand in the first round,” Grove said.
“You’re definitely going into the fight with a different mentality
instead of just bombs away.”

“I would be lying to you if I tell you I feel I didn’t have it
already,” he said. “I feel it, I see it. I mean, there’s no way to
detect it until I am dead.”

Grove puts his health in danger, not for masculine bravado or his
competitive spirit but to put food on the table. He wants to
provide for his family.

“At the end of the day, I have bills. I have to feed [my kids],”
Grove said. “This is what I know how to do.”

Grove concedes that he would likely walk away from combat sports if
asked to do so by his wife and kids. That day has not yet come. As
he trains for his first bareknuckle boxing bout, he feels
energized. More importantly, he feels healthy for the first time in
a long time. Although Grove’s deal with BKFC is not exclusive and
allows him to return to MMA whenever he wants, he prefers to focus
his attention on the boxing ring for the foreseeable future.